Listed below are the approved requirements for the program from the official Academic Programs Catalog.
Students must consult their advisors to learn which specific requirements apply to their degree programs.
Requirements as represented in Degree Navigator are not available for this program.

College of Social Science

In cooperation with the School of Labor and Industrial Relations, the School of Social Work, and the urban and regional planning faculty in the Department of Geography, the College of Social Science offers a Master of Arts degree program with a major in interdisciplinary studies in social science: global applications. The program is designed for international mid–career specialists, managers, and executives who are employed in the public and private sectors in various large–scale, national–level organizations that involve globalization in multilingual situations. The objective of the program is to provide an opportunity for individuals to study the way applied fields of social science may contribute to the resolution of problems that are created by rapid economic globalization. The program focuses on the areas of public housing and urban planning, social service delivery, and labor and industrial relations. The program, which requires full–time study for a period of one year (two semesters and one summer), is available only under Plan B (without thesis).

The Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs in the College has administrative responsibility for the Master of Arts degree program with a major in interdisciplinary studies in social science: global applications. The Associate Dean confers with an advisory committee composed of representatives of the faculty in labor and industrial relations, social work, and urban and regional planning on student admissions and program requirements. A program coordinator assists students in planning their programs of study.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the University and of the College of Social Science, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

To be considered for admission to the master's degree program in interdisciplinary studies in social science: global applications, an applicant must:

Be employed full–time in the public or private sector as an international mid–level specialist, manager, or executive in a large–scale, national–level organization that involves globalization in multilingual situations.

Be nominated by his or her employing organization. The employing organization must submit to the college a statement to the effect that if the applicant is admitted to the program the applicant would be granted a one–year absence from the organization and the organization would sponsor the applicant while he or she is enrolled in the program.

Take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test and have the scores submitted to the college.

Submit to the college a statement that addresses the applicant's:

reasons for applying for admission to the program.

willingness to pursue the program full–time during a one–year absence from his or her employing organization and willingness to meet the residence requirement for the program on Michigan State University's East Lansing campus during that year, if he or she is admitted to the program.

To be admitted to the master's degree program in interdisciplinary studies in social science: global applications on regular status, an applicant must have:

Completed a bachelor's degree with an acceptable record from a recognized educational institution. Although the field of undergraduate study is not critical for acceptance, an applicant should have completed at least 12 credits in the social sciences.

Professional experience acceptable to the college.

Demonstrated to the satisfaction of the college quantitative skills (typically algebra or introductory calculus, and statistics) and computer competence sufficient for completing master's level methods courses in the social sciences.

Demonstrated to the satisfaction of the college advanced competence in a language other than English.

In addition, an international applicant is required to have fulfilled the university's English language proficiency requirement as described in the Graduate Education section of this catalog by having a total score of 580 (paper version) or 237 (computer version) or above on the Test of English as a Foreign Language and having the approval of the English Language Center.

However, meeting the minimum standards referenced above does not guarantee admission to the program. Admission to the program is determined by a careful case–by–case review of each applicant's credentials. Particular emphasis is given to the applicant's grade–point average during the junior and senior years of the undergraduate program, scores on the GRE, and statement of objectives.

A cumulative grade–point average of 3.00 or higher for the undergraduate program of study is preferred for admission on regular status. However, an applicant with a grade–point average below 3.00 may be admitted if other components of the application are especially strong.

Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science: Global Applications

The student must complete a total of 30 credits under Plan B in a program of study developed in consultation with the program coordinator and approved in advance by the Associate Dean. The student's program of study must ensure exposure to the concerns of labor and industrial relations, social work, and urban and regional planning and must include:

At least 21 credits in courses in the College of Social Science.

Core.

The following course:SW 821 Social Welfare Policy and Service Delivery Systems (2)

One of the following courses:LIR 824 Human Resource Strategies and Decisions (3)LIR 858 Collective Bargaining (3)

One of the following courses:UP 801 Concepts and Issues in Planning and Development (4)UP 823 Urban Land Management (4)

Concentration: Six to 9 credits in one of the following three concentrations. A list of approved courses for each of the concentrations is available from the College.Concentration A: Human Resource Development/Industrial RelationsConcentration B: Comparative Human Service ProgramsConcentration C: Urban and Regional Development

Guided Electives: Six to 9 credits in courses from the following departments within the College: Anthropology, Criminal Justice, Geography, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology. With the approval of the Associate Dean, credits in courses that are administered by other academic units may be used to satisfy this requirement.

Field Experience: Three credits in an internship, practicum experience, or field experience while enrolled on the East Lansing campus. The related course must be approved in advance by the Associate Dean. A policy paper or report based on the field experience is required.

Additional Electives: Three credits in an additional internship, practicum, or field experience; in independent study; or in an experiential learning opportunity. The related course must be approved in advance by the Associate Dean.

Academic Standards

Students are expected to maintain a minimum grade–point average of 3.00 each semester, in addition to maintaining a cumulative grade–point average of 3.00.